Cycling Australia

[awkwardPause]

This leaves more questions than answers for me.

 

[JohnS]

In Australia, heavily populated urban areas can have a lot of trees and bush where these magpie birds are famous for guarding their territory. Believe it or not, if you like to cycle in these areas, the wearing of helmets and sunwear is absolutely essential to prevent getting swooped upon!

[Ken Gargett]

john is correct, though i doubt the mouthpiece for water (alcohol?) is entirely necessary. a lot of people in hospital at this time of year (and every year) because of eye injuries. they are seriously dangerous. and will also often swoop and peck very hard into the back of your head. golf courses are a prime spot.

also, walking in the morning even in suburbs. they will swoop. i always carry a solid stick (it was once a snake catching stick i found in a dry river bed in the cameroons). it is for magpies at this time of year, also snakes and dogs. and cyclists!

[Fuzz AI]

8 minutes ago, Ken Gargett said:

john is correct, though i doubt the mouthpiece for water (alcohol?) is entirely necessary. a lot of people in hospital at this time of year (and every year) because of eye injuries. they are seriously dangerous. and will also often swoop and peck very hard into the back of your head. golf courses are a prime spot.

also, walking in the morning even in suburbs. they will swoop. i always carry a solid stick (it was once a snake catching stick i found in a dry river bed in the cameroons). it is for magpies at this time of year, also snakes and dogs. and cyclists!

The mouthpiece is to blow into to deploy his anti-magpie party whistles attached to his helmet.

[Ken Gargett]

5 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

The mouthpiece is to blow into to deploy his anti-magpie party whistles attached to his helmet.

i though that of all people fuzz, you'd be on board with alcohol.

[Fuzz AI]

To drink? Yes. To squirt at a magpie? Only if there was a small pilot light in front of the nozzle.

[Auspaul]

Have had one of them get me on the ear drew blood dangerous things

[Dave O)))]

Butcher Birds do this too. I have a scar to prove it. Same family of birds. I found out not long ago that cyclists put several zip-tie "tails" sticking out from their helmets to keep the birds at bay.

[Akela3rd]

Albert Bacon Pratt's Helmet Gun - patented in 1916, though not specifically for the cyclist/magpie interface.



Thunder & Lightening '75-'15

[gweilgi]

19 hours ago, JohnS said:

In Australia, heavily populated urban areas can have a lot of trees and bush where these magpie birds are famous for guarding their territory. Believe it or not, if you like to cycle in these areas, the wearing of helmets and sunwear is absolutely essential to prevent getting swooped upon!

Quite a few folk like to thread cable ties through their cycling helmet, with the stiff end poking out, to deter magpies.  It appears to work, even though it makes you look like a card-carrying member of the tinfoil brigade.

Personally, I prefer a shotgun.  

[El Presidente]

Tennis racket works a treat. It scares them back to the tree whereby you pull out the ball bearing loaded sling shot and finish the job. 

 

.......or not 

[Leopolis Semper Fidelis]

I like magpies!  Our family had a pet one for thirty years, far more entertaining than cats and dogs.  Maggie was a good watch dog too.  There have been magpies living in the trees just a few yards from us for as long as I can remember and they have never been threatening, even at nesting time.

[Guest Nekhyludov]

It really is true, isn't it? In Australia, everything that isn't you is trying to kill you. 

[jay8354]

On ‎23‎/‎10‎/‎2017 at 11:34 AM, El Presidente said:

Tennis racket works a treat. It scares them back to the tree whereby you pull out the ball bearing loaded sling shot and finish the job. 

 

.......or not 

Let me tell you the story about Fuzz and Magpies when I am up in Brissie.

[Fuzz AI]

1 hour ago, jay8354 said:

Let me tell you the story about Fuzz and Magpies when I am up in Brissie.

Hey!